WHAT HAPPENED IN NOAH WOODS’ FINAL HOURS? INQUEST REVEALS DETAILS ABOUT THE TODDLER’S LAST KNOWN MOVEMENTS
The opening of an inquest has provided a clearer timeline of how three-year-old Noah Woods left a playground before his body was discovered in a nearby pond.
The heartbreaking case of three-year-old Noah Woods has left a community searching for answers after the little boy was found in Decoy Pond in Brantham, Suffolk.
Noah disappeared on September 15, 2026, after visiting a playground with a relative. A massive search operation followed, involving police officers, specialist divers and approximately 1,300 members of the public.
His body was recovered from the pond the following afternoon.
CCTV HELPED RECONSTRUCT HIS LAST KNOWN MOVEMENTS
At the opening of Noah’s inquest on September 25, Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick outlined details of the investigation.
Motion-activated CCTV showed Noah playing at the playground between 2:13 p.m. and 2:37 p.m. on the day he disappeared.
Investigators heard that he subsequently left the play area through a gap in the fence, entered a memorial garden and passed through an open gate.
He then headed in the direction of Decoy Pond.
The relative accompanying him was reportedly following closely behind and calling after him. However, after approximately 200 metres, Noah could no longer be seen.
Police were contacted, and a large-scale search began.
WHERE DIVERS FOUND HIM
The inquest heard that Metropolitan Police divers eventually located Noah approximately five metres from the pond’s bank.
His body was found among submerged tree roots, in water estimated to be around 1.8 metres deep.
A post-mortem examination was carried out, but the medical cause of dєatᩚh was recorded as pending further investigation at the opening hearing.
The coroner adjourned the inquest to a later date.
Importantly, police have said Noah’s dєatᩚh was not being treated as suspicious. There has been no confirmed announcement of newly discovered evidence overturning the account presented at the inquest.
A SEPARATE INVESTIGATION INTO ACCESS TO HIS MEDICAL RECORDS
In a separate development, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust launched an investigation after concerns emerged that Noah’s medical records may have been accessed without a legitimate clinical reason.
The trust said ten members of staff had been suspended or removed from active duty while enquiries continued. The matter was also reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The investigation concerns the handling of Noah’s private medical information, not evidence about the circumstances of his dєatᩚh.
“HE WAS AT THE CENTRE OF OUR WORLD”
Noah’s family have described him as a happy, cheeky and playful little boy who loved to laugh and brought joy to those around him.
His parents also shared that he was being assessed for autism and had mild hearing loss and speech delays.
In their tribute, they remembered how much he adored his baby brother and how he had been learning new words.
They asked the public to remember Noah for the little boy he was, rather than allowing the circumstances of his dєatᩚh to define his memory.
For his family, the loss remains immeasurable.
And as the inquest process continues, the questions surrounding Noah’s final hours remain deeply painful for everyone who loved him.
